Human Rights

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt has created a new high-powered human rights watchdog agency, but its primary mission isn’t to protect Egyptians from violations. Instead, the body is foremost aimed at protecting the government from allegations of rights abuses and defending it on the international stage.

The new body reflects an attitude of the state under President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi that sees criticism over human rights as intended to undermine the government and cause instability at a time when it is facing militant threats and trying to rebuild a battered economy.

Srinagar, Nov 25 (PTI) Four militants were Sunday killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said.

The four were killed in an encounter at Hipura Batagund area in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, an Army official said.

He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained.

The official said security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area following specific information about the presence of militants there.

Muzaffarnagar, Nov 25 (PTI) A 26-year-old married woman was allegedly raped by three people at her home in the absence of her husband in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, police said Sunday.

The accused had threatened the woman of dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anyone, Station House Officer Bhagat Singh said.

On Saturday, the three men entered the woman's home forcefully and raped her when her husband was not around, he said.

The accused were absconding, the SHO said, adding a case was registered against them.

Lucknow, Nov 25 (PTI) Terming VHP's "Dharm Sabha" and visit of Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackerey to Ayodhya an open "challenge" to Supreme Court, All India Muslim Personal law Board (AIMPLB) Sunday said a situation is being created against the Muslims.

"It is not the matter of giving a mosque but its a matter of principle that how many mosques will we have to sacrifice gradually. If we talk to someone, it will withdraw and another one will come.

TASS, November 25. At least 14 civilians were killed in an airstrike delivered by the US-led coalition in the settlement of Al-Shaafa in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor governorate, SANA news agency reported on Sunday.

According to SANA’s sources, all those killed were members of one family.

25 Nov 2018; DW: Thousands of people are rallying for a temple to be built at the site of a mosque that was razed in 1992 by fanatics. Many Hindus, and some historians, claim that the mosque was built on the site of Lord Rama's temple.

Huge crowds of saffron-clad protesters waved swords and chanted "Praise Be to Ram" Sunday in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya, demanding that a temple be built on the site of a demolished Moghul-era mosque.

24 Nov 2018; AFP: Israeli lawyers have filed a class action against Airbnb after its decision to remove Jewish settler homes in the occupied West Bank from its rental listings.

A spokesman for the attorneys, who spoke to AFP Friday on condition of anonymity, said the lead plaintiff was Maanit Rabinovich of Kida settlement in the West Bank.

Rabinovich says Airbnb never contacted her to warn her of its intention.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A prominent Saudi royal said Saturday that whether or not heads of state gathered in Argentina next week for the Group of 20 summit warmly engage with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he is someone “that they have to deal with.”

Prince Turki al-Faisal told The Associated Press the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul last month is “an unacceptable incident that tars and mars the long record of Saudi Arabia’s own standing in the world.”

Ayodhya, Nov 24 (PTI) A day before the Dharam Sabha called by the Vishva Hindu Parishad, Ayodhya was virtually turned into fortress with multiple layers of security and deployment of drones to keep an eye on possible mischief- mongers.

A UP Police spokesperson said one additional DGP, one deputy inspector general (DIG), three senior superintendents of police (SSPs), 10 additional SPs, 21 deputy SPs, 160 inspectors, 700 constables, 42 companies of PAC, five companies of RAF, ATS commandos and drones were deployed here.

Jammu, Nov 24 (PTI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader M Y Tarigami Saturday demanded an immediate end to civilian killings in the Kashmir Valley.

"The unabated civilian killings in Kashmir must be a cause of concern for every right-thinking person in the state and the country," Tarigami said.

Three civilians, including a 14-year-old girl, were killed in Kashmir in the last three-days.

Expressing heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, he said the killings were "highly condemnable".